VI's COVID-19 death still under review – Hon Malone
Maria Vinuya of the Philippines was one of eight persons who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Virgin Islands and is the only related death.
Allegations
Following her passing, many had accused the woman of not seeking treatment in a timely fashion and had meted out discriminatory remarks at her family and the Filipino community.
In a recent publication in a local newspaper; however, her surviving husband who had subsequently tested positive for the virus had said the family had requested to be tested no less than ten times and was denied via the hotline.
The husband, Lorenzo Vinuya, according to the publication, further alleged that on one occasion when his wife went to the hospital she was inaccurately diagnosed and was not tested for the virus despite displaying symptoms.
According to the newspaper, “She had also visited the hospital four days earlier with severe breathing difficulties, but after blood tests and an x-ray she was diagnosed with a likely case of asthma and sent home without being tested for Covid-19."
Investigation
Appearing on JTV’s 'Big Story' with Cathy O. Richards last night, July 13, 2020, Hon Malone said the allegations by Mr Vinuya are still being investigated.
He said, “As I had mentioned in other broadcasts, there is a protocol for investigations of any incident that occur at any of the health service centre and as I told a number of persons today your experience with the hospital starts with the time we are called until when we are released if you were ever admitted.”
According to Hon Malone, “So there are areas in which we will have to fully investigate. It is under investigation in terms of review and it is being done as we speak so.”
Mrs Vinuya cellphone allegedly disposed of by error
Also among the allegations of errors on the part of the BVIHSA is that after several requests by the widower to have his wife’s mobile phone handed over to him and a number of times being told he was going to get it, this never materialised as he was eventually told that the phone was disposed of by error.
For Mr Vinuya, his wife’s phone contained treasured memories that would have served as a comfort to him and family.
When Mrs Vinuya died of COVID-19-related complications early in the morning of April 18, 2020, Mr Vinuya received the news by phone while he was alone in quarantine at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Road Town.
“I understand that the person was showing all the symptoms from before, but, you know, because of whatever reason they didn’t present themselves earlier,” Hon Malone had told the House of Assembly, suggesting that the patient likely had contracted the virus before the ongoing lockdown started 12 days earlier.
“Nonetheless, we have a duty to protect all of us by each of us doing what is required,” he had said.
Closure
Meanwhile, our newsroom was told that Mr Vinuya was reportedly not allowed to see his wife following her death but had requested that a photo be taken of his wife for closure; however, the photo has allegedly not yet been supplied.
It is said that the grieving man does not wish to create any problems for anyone but wishes to have proper closure.
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35 Responses to “VI's COVID-19 death still under review – Hon Malone”
The government hiding something?
C**** is a miserable lady who wants to be in politics so bad but can’t even come up with a political party
Few years ago my son was in septic shock after the birth and I took him to the ER as I knew he’s not ok, you know what those idiots at the ER did? They sent me home with my barely breathing newborn, saying he’s ok and I’ve got nothing to worry about. Only next day when I brought him to the clinic, after two hours of us waiting to see a doctor, they admitted my son to ICU and put him on ventilator. The nurses were so lazy they couldn’t even move from the incubator to the tray with medicine without sucking their teeth! The doctors had no idea what they’re doing and were blatantly lying about his tests. Thanks to the doctors in Colombia my son survived, I can’t even think of what would’ve happened if we stayed at Peebles. You’ve got to do better Peebles hospital!